Wenger close to conceding title race over

Arsenal boss Arsene Wenger admits his team has little chance of winning the English Premier League title after a 2-1 loss at Bolton on Sunday.

A late header from substitute Tamir Cohen gave the Wanderers three points in Sunday’s clash, after Robin van Persie had cancelled out Daniel Sturridge’s first-half goal.

Wenger said his team, now sitting nine points from table-topping Manchester United, was almost out of the title race.

“It’s hard to lose a game like that,” Wenger told Sky Sports.

“We gave everything. Our attitude was fantastic. We were 1-0 down and had chances to win it.”

“We have to give as much as we can until the last game, but of course the chances are minimal now. The players fought very hard and the players are disappointed.”

Wenger felt Arsenal deserved more from their last three outings, which have included draws against Liverpool and Tottenham, as well as the loss to Bolton.

“I feel this week we could have taken nine points and we have taken two,” he said.

“We do not have to change our way of playing.”

“I feel we have to be more mature in some situations when we are looking too frail. If you look at the way we dropped points it makes it even more frustrating.”

Bolton manager Owen Coyle was delighted with the way his team responded after their 5-0 defeat at the hands of Stoke City in the FA Cup semi-final a week ago.

“The boys have been magnificent all season. We had one terrible, horrible day last week when everything that could go wrong went wrong,” Coyle said.

“We didn’t feel great about ourselves and that will stay with me till the day I die, but today I think everybody has seen the true Bolton.”